Indonesia's Richie Duta Richardo Wins Pontianak International Challenge 2026

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesian men’s singles shuttler Richie Duta Richardo won the POLYTRON Pontianak International Challenge 2026 after defeating India’s seventh seed Ginpaul Sonna 24–22, 21–19.

The match took place at Terpadu Sports Hall in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, on Sunday, August 30, 2026. Richie secured the victory in 59 minutes.

After the match, Richie said he never expected to become the champion of the Pontianak International Challenge 2026, noting that he only focused on giving his best in every round.

“Actually, from the very first day, I never thought I could keep winning in straight games all the way to the final. I just always tried to give my best performance,” he said.

Regarding the final against Sonna, Richie said both players fought with everything they had. In the first game, Sonna increased the tempo after the interval and managed to narrow the gap.

“Because it was the final, we both felt we had to give everything to win the match. In the first game, after the interval, he increased the tempo and narrowed the gap,” he continued.

“But toward the end, I was able to take advantage of his mistakes. In the second game, I made several errors at crucial points. Fortunately, I managed to finish it in the final rally,” he added.

Richie dedicated the victory to his parents, who were present at the venue. He also thanked his national training teammates, coaches, and support staff.

Next, Richie will focus on pursuing higher‑level titles, including the Super 100 tournament. “After this, I want to aim for even bigger titles, such as the Super 100,” he concluded. (Diffa Sephiawardhani)